Image forming system, data processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, recording medium and display method

ABSTRACT

When an image formation instruction for created document data is received, image data for a preview image corresponding to the document data is generated, the preview image based on the image data is displayed on a display, and an image is formed using data for image formation based on the image data for the preview image.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional application of U.S. Ser. No.13/115,326, filed May 25, 2011. U.S. Ser. No. 13/115,326 claims priorityunder 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to Patent Application No. 2010-121852 filed inJapan on May 27, 2010. The entire contents of the above-identifiedapplications are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to an image forming system, a dataprocessing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a computer programfor displaying a preview image corresponding to created document data,or for an image formation based on the document data.

2. Description of Related Art

A printer driver is installed in a personal computer to enable an imageforming apparatus, such as a printer and a multi-function printer, toperform an output (image formation) process for document data, such astext and image, (hereinafter referred to as the document data) createdby a user on an application, which is activated on the personalcomputer.

When the user gives an instruction to output the document data createdon the application, the printer driver is activated, converts thedocument data and output conditions into a form (PCL) capable of beingprocessed and outputted by the image forming apparatus, and sends themto the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus receives thePCL type data and executes an image formation process for the documentdata according to the output conditions.

Further, before sending the document data to the image formingapparatus, the printer driver displays on a display section a settingscreen for receiving settings of output conditions (such as the numberof pages to be outputted, a paper specification, and post-processingsettings) from the user, converts the output conditions received throughthe setting screen into the PCL form recognizable by the image formingapparatus, and sends them together with the document data.

However, in such a state, although the user can imagine what an outputto be outputted from the image forming apparatus will look like, theuser cannot visually recognize the output before being outputted.

Therefore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-40045 (1998)discloses a print preview method that uses a printer driver to displaythe form of an output to be outputted from a printer on a displaysection of a personal computer so that the user is able to confirm theoutput in advance on the screen of the display section.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H7-325693 (1995) discloses aninformation processing system including a printer driver that convertsdocument data to be outputted into data for a preview compatible with acorresponding image forming apparatus and displays an image based on theconverted data on a display section.

SUMMARY

However, the print preview method disclosed in Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open No. H10-40045 (1998) and a so-called previewdisplay provided by the information processing system disclosed inJapanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H7-325693 (1995) merelyprovide a simplified preview image created with using document data anddo not enable a user to confirm the details of an output, and thus failto sufficiently exhibit an intended function of a preview image whichallows the user to view the final state of the output.

Further, with the advancement of high-performance image generatingapparatuses providing high image quality, high resolution, etc., userswho produce outputs using a high-performance image forming apparatusdemand more realistic and detailed preview images that allow the usersto confirm the images. The print preview method disclosed in JapanesePatent Application Laid-Open No. H10-40045 (1998) and a simplifiedpreview image like a preview display provided by the informationprocessing system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.H7-325693 (1995) fails to meet such demand of the users. Thus, even whenan output is produced using a high-performance image forming apparatus,a preview image adequate for the high-performance image formingapparatus is not provided, and the user is not able to visuallyrecognize the output in advance, and therefore there is a possibilitythat a wasteful output which does not meet the user's expectation may beoutputted.

More specifically, in the print preview method disclosed in JapanesePatent Application Laid-Open No. H10-40045 (1998), a graphic instructionfrom a GDI (Graphic Device Interface) is displayed. In the informationprocessing system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.H7-325693 (1995), original document data for printing is converted intoa printer code and then the printer code is converted into preview data,or the document data is converted into preview data.

In the print preview method disclosed in Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open No. H10-40045 (1998), however, a preview image and a printedimage do not always match. This is because even when the user modifiessettings by the printer driver, the modification is not always reflectedin the preview image.

In the information processing system disclosed in Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open No. H7-325693 (1995), when converting documentdata into preview data, a modification made in the settings by theprinter driver is not always reflected in the preview image. In the casewhere the document data is converted into a printer code and thenfurther converted into preview data, a modification in the settings isreflected in the preview image, but it is necessary to regenerate aprinter code and preview data whenever a modification is made to thesettings, and an increased number of processes are required.

The present invention has been made with the aim of solving the aboveproblems, and it is an object of the invention to provide an imageforming system, a data processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus,and a computer program, which in a case of receiving an image formationinstruction for created document data, generate image data for a previewimage corresponding to the document data and display a preview imagebased on the image data on a display section, and form an image usingimage formation data based on the image data for the preview image, andare thereby capable of displaying a preview image representing morerealistically an output, improving the visibility for the user, anddisplaying a preview image adequate for the high-performance imageforming apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image formingsystem, a data processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and acomputer program, which create image data for a preview image fromdocument data, display a preview image based on the image data on adisplay section, receive settings of image forming conditions andpost-image-formation processing conditions, modify the image data forthe preview image based on the settings, and generate data for imageformation based on the image data, and therefore do not need toregenerate image data for a preview image and data for image formationevery time a modification is made to the settings of the image formingconditions and post-image-formation processing conditions, for example,and are thereby capable of promptly reflecting the modification in theimage forming conditions and post-image-formation processing conditionsin the preview image and displaying the preview image matching the imageof an output.

The image forming system according to the present invention is an imageforming system including a data processing apparatus for creatingdocument data for an image to be formed and displaying a preview imagecorresponding to the document data on a display section, and an imageforming apparatus for forming an image based on data acquired, whereinthe data processing apparatus comprises: an instruction receivingsection for receiving an image formation instruction for the documentdata; an image data generating section for generating image data for thepreview image when the instruction receiving section receives the imageformation instruction; an image display section for displaying thepreview image based on the image data generated by the image datagenerating section on the display section; and a formation datagenerating section for generating, based on the image data for thepreview image, data for image formation which is to be sent to the imageforming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus comprises: anacquiring section for acquiring the data for image formation from thedata processing apparatus; and an image forming section for forming animage based on the acquired data for image formation.

In the present invention, when the instruction receiving section of thedata processing apparatus receives an image formation instruction forcreated document data, image data generating section of the dataprocessing apparatus generates image data for a preview imagecorresponding to the document data, and image display section of thedata processing apparatus displays a preview image based on the imagedata on the display section. In addition, formation data generatingsection of the data processing apparatus generates, based on the imagedata for the preview image, data for image formation that is to be sentto the image forming apparatus. The data for image formation is sent tothe image forming apparatus. The acquiring section of the image formingapparatus acquires the data for image formation from the data processingapparatus, and the image forming section of the image forming apparatusforms an image based on the data for image formation acquired by theacquiring section.

The image forming system according to the present invention is an imageforming system, wherein the image display section of the data processingapparatus comprises: a setting receiving section for receiving settingsof image forming conditions for the document data andpost-image-formation processing conditions; and a modifying section formodifying the image data for the preview image, according to the imageforming conditions and post-image-formation processing conditionsreceived by the setting receiving section, and displays a preview imagebased on the modified image data from the modifying section on thedisplay section.

In the present invention, when the setting receiving section of theimage display section receives settings of image forming conditions forthe document data and post-image-formation processing conditions, themodifying section of the image display section modifies the image datafor the preview image, according to the image forming conditions andpost-image-formation processing conditions. The image display sectiondisplays a preview image based on the modified image data on the displaysection.

The image forming system according to the present invention is an imageforming system, wherein the data processing apparatus further comprisesa three-dimensional data generating section for generatingthree-dimensional image data for a preview image corresponding tostereoscopic viewing.

In the present invention, the three-dimensional data generating sectiongenerates three-dimensional image data for a preview image. The displaysection displays a preview image based on the three-dimensional imagedata on the display section.

The image forming system according to the present invention is an imageforming system, wherein the formation data generating section generatesdata for image formation including the image forming conditions andpost-image-formation processing conditions, according to an instructionfrom the image display section.

In the present invention, the formation data generating section of thedata processing apparatus generates data for image formation includingthe image forming conditions and post-image-formation processingconditions received by the setting receiving section, and sends the datato the image forming apparatus.

The data processing apparatus according to the present invention is adata processing apparatus for creating document data for an image to beformed and displaying a preview image corresponding to the document dataon a display section, comprising: an instruction receiving section forreceiving an image formation instruction for the document data; an imagedata generating section for generating image data for the preview imagewhen the instruction receiving section receives the image formationinstruction; an image display section for displaying the preview imagebased on the image data generated by the image data generating sectionon the display section; and a formation data generating section forgenerating, based on the image data for the preview image, data forimage formation.

In the present invention, when the instruction receiving sectionreceives an image formation instruction for created document data, theimage data generating section generates image data for a preview imagecorresponding the document data, and the image display section displaysa preview image based on the image data on the display section.Moreover, the formation data generating section generates, based on theimage data for the preview image, data for image formation.

The data processing apparatus according to the present invention ischaracterized by a data processing apparatus, wherein the image displaysection comprises: a setting receiving section for receiving settings ofimage forming conditions for the document data and post-image-formationprocessing conditions; and a modifying section for modifying the imagedata for the preview image, according to the image forming conditionsand post-image-formation processing conditions received by the settingreceiving section, and displays a preview image based on the modifiedimage data from the modifying section on the display section.

In the present invention, when the setting receiving section receivesthe settings of image forming conditions for the document data andpost-image-formation processing conditions, the modifying section of theimage display section modifies the image data for the preview image,according to the image forming conditions and post-image-formationprocessing conditions, and the image display section displays a previewimage based on the modified image data on the display section.

The data processing apparatus according to the present invention is adata processing apparatus, further comprising a three-dimensional datagenerating section for generating three-dimensional image data for apreview image corresponding to stereoscopic viewing.

In the present invention, the three-dimensional data generating sectiongenerates three-dimensional image data for a preview image, and thedisplay section displays a preview image based on the three-dimensionalimage data on the display section.

The data processing apparatus according to the present invention is adata processing apparatus, wherein the formation data generating sectiongenerates data for image formation including the image formingconditions and post-image-formation processing conditions, according toan instruction from the image display section.

In the present invention, the formation data generating sectiongenerates data for image formation including the image formingconditions and post-image-formation processing conditions received bythe setting receiving section.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is animage forming apparatus comprising: a data processing apparatus definedabove; and an image forming section for forming an image based ondocument data created by the data processing apparatus on a sheet.

In the present invention, an image is formed on a sheet, based ondocument data created by a data processing apparatus and acquired fromthe data processing apparatus.

The recording medium according to the present invention is anon-transitory computer-readable recording medium readable by a computerand storing a computer program for causing a computer constituting adata processing apparatus, which includes a display section and createsdocument data for an image to be formed, to display a preview imagecorresponding to the document data, said computer program comprising: aninstruction receiving step for causing the computer to receive an imageformation instruction for the document data; an image data generatingstep for causing the computer to generate image data for the previewimage when the image formation instruction is received; an image displaystep for causing the computer to display the preview image based on theimage data generated in the image data generating step on the displaysection; and a formation data generating step for causing the computerto generate, based on the image data for the preview image, data forimage formation.

The display method according to the present invention is a displaymethod for use with a data processing apparatus, which includes adisplay section and creates document data for an image to be formed, todisplay a preview image corresponding to the document data, comprising:an instruction receiving step for receiving an image formationinstruction for the document data; an image data generating step forgenerating image data for the preview image when the image formationinstruction is received; an image display step for displaying thepreview image based on the image data generated in the image datagenerating step on the display section; and a formation data generatingstep for generating, based on the image data for the preview image, datafor image formation.

In the present invention, when an image formation instruction forcreated document data is received, image data for a preview imagecorresponding to the document data is generated, and a preview imagebased on the image data is displayed on the display section. Inaddition, data for image formation based on the document data isgenerated, and a given image forming apparatus forms an image by usingthe data for image formation.

The recording medium according to the present invention is anon-transitory computer-readable recording medium readable by acomputer, wherein said computer program further comprises: a settingreceiving step for causing the computer to receive settings of imageforming conditions for the document data and post-image-formationprocessing conditions; a modifying step for causing the computer tomodify the image data for the preview image, according to the imageforming conditions and post-image-formation processing conditionsreceived in the setting receiving step, and a step for causing thecomputer to display a preview image based on the modified image data inthe modifying step on the display section.

The display method according to the present invention is a displaymethod, further comprising: a setting receiving step for receivingsettings of image forming conditions for the document data andpost-image-formation processing conditions; a modifying step formodifying the image data for the preview image, according to the imageforming conditions and post-image-formation processing conditionsreceived in the setting receiving step, and a step of displaying apreview image based on the modified image data in the modifying step onthe display section.

In the present invention, when settings of image forming conditions forthe document data and post-image-formation processing conditions arereceived, the image data for a preview image is modified based on theimage forming conditions and post-image-formation processing conditions,and a preview image is displayed based on the modified image data on thedisplay section.

The recording medium is a non-transitory computer-readable recordingmedium readable by a computer, wherein said computer program furthercomprises: a three-dimensional data generating step for causing thecomputer to generate three-dimensional image data for a preview imagecorresponding to stereoscopic viewing; and a step for causing thecomputer to display the preview image corresponding to thethree-dimensional image data on the display section.

The display method according to the present invention is a displaymethod, further comprising a three-dimensional data generating step forgenerating three-dimensional image data for a preview imagecorresponding to stereoscopic viewing.

In the present invention, when three-dimensional image data for thepreview image is generated, the preview image based on thethree-dimensional image data is displayed on the display section.

According to the present invention, it is possible to display a previewimage representing more realistically an output, thereby improving thevisibility for the user and enabling a display of a preview imageadequate for a high-image-quality, high-resolution, high-performanceimage forming apparatus.

The above and further objects and features will more fully be apparentfrom the following detailed description with accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram for explaining essentialconfigurations of a personal computer and a multi-function printerconstituting an image forming system according to Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating an essentialconfiguration of a preview driver of Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating an essentialconfiguration of a preview application of Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary view illustrating one example of a display ofpreview images and the setting receiving screen of Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary view illustrating one example ofthree-dimensionally displaying the finished state as preview images inEmbodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary view illustrating one example oftwo-dimensionally displaying the finished state as preview images inEmbodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a comparative view for comparing an image forming systemaccording to the present invention with a conventional image formingsystem.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating one example of a printing (imageformation) process in the image forming system according to Embodiment 1of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram illustrating an essentialconfiguration of a personal computer according to Embodiment 2 of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description will explain an example in which a dataprocessing apparatus and an image forming apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention are a personal computer and amulti-function printer, respectively, which constitute an image formingsystem according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram for explaining essentialconfigurations of the personal computer and the multi-function printerconstituting the image forming system according to Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention. For example, a personal computer 1 is connected to amulti-function printer 100 with a LAN, and the multi-function printer100 forms an image based on data for a document (hereinafter referred toas the document data), which is created by the personal computer 1.

The personal computer 1 uses, for example, the Microsoft Windowsoperating system (OS) available from Microsoft Corporation. The personalcomputer 1 comprises: an application 2 (instruction receiving section);a hard disk 3; a preview driver 4; a preview application 9; a printerdriver 5 (formation data generating section); an input section 6; adisplay 7; and a communication section 8.

The application 2 is an application program for providing text editingfunctions, such as word processing, paint, and presentation functions.Document data created on the application 2 is supplied to the previewdriver 4 via an interface of the OS.

The input section 6 comprises, for example, a keyboard, a mouse etc.When creating document data on the application 2, data is inputtedthrough the input section 6.

The display 7 is a liquid crystal display, for example, displays apreview image based on image data for a preview image created by thepreview driver 4, and displays a setting receiving screen by the previewapplication 9.

The communication section 8 includes a network card, modem, etc. forsending, for example, document data, and later-described printingconditions (image forming conditions) and post-printing processingconditions (post-image-formation processing conditions) to themulti-function printer 100.

When the creation of document data on the application 2 is completed andan instruction for printing (image formation) is received from a user,the preview driver 4 is activated and generates image data for a previewimage corresponding to the document data.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating an essentialconfiguration of the preview driver 4 of Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention. The preview driver 4 includes an image data generatingsection 41.

The image data generating section 41 generates image data for a previewimage (intermediate file) on the basis of document data from theapplication 2 and information from the printer driver 5. Theintermediate file is, for example, EMF (Enhanced Meta File) data foreach page, and includes the document data and meta data (paper size,resolution and orientation) for printing the document data.

The preview application 9 (image display section) displays a previewimage (or a three-dimensional view of a finished state) on the display 7to assist the user of viewing a printed state and displays the settingreceiving screen that is a user interface for receiving settings ofprinting conditions (for example, the number of copies,duplex/single-side printing, multiple pages per sheet printing, scaledprinting, etc.) for printing based on document data, and post-printingprocessing conditions (such as binding and stapling) from the user, andreceives the settings. Based on the received settings, the previewapplication 9 modifies the image data for a preview image, and displaysa preview image based on the modified image data on the display 7.Further, the preview application 9 sends the document data and theprinting conditions and post-printing processing conditions to theprinter driver 5, and gives an instruction to send them to themulti-function printer 100.

The preview application 9 sends the intermediate file (EMF data) to, forexample, Win32API which is drawing means provided by the OS, and causesWin32API to execute display and output of the EMF data in order todisplay the preview image based on image data generated by the imagedata generating section 41 on the display 7, and also displays thesetting receiving screen on the display 7.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating an essentialconfiguration of the preview application 9 of Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention. The preview application 9 includes a modifyingsection 91 and a setting receiving section 92.

The setting receiving section 92 receives the printing conditions andpost-printing processing conditions through the setting receiving screendisplayed on the display 7. When the setting receiving section 92receives the printing conditions and post-printing processingconditions, the modifying section 91 modifies the image data for apreview image, which was already generated based on the document datafrom the application 2, according to the received printing conditionsand post-printing processing conditions, so that a preview image basedon the modified image data, namely, a preview image, which is reflectedfrom the printing conditions and post-printing processing conditions, isdisplayed on the display 7.

When the setting receiving section 92 receives the printing conditionsand post-printing processing conditions, the modifying section 91modifies the image data for a preview image, which was already generatedbased on the document data from the application 2, according to thereceived printing conditions and post-printing processing conditions, onthe preview application 9.

Thus, in the present invention, the preview image, which is reflectedfrom both the printing conditions and the post-printing processingconditions, is immediately displayed, thereby improving the visibilityfor the user.

The preview application 9 sends to the printer driver 5 the printingconditions and post-printing processing conditions thus received by thesetting receiving section 92, the document data, and EMF data includingmeta data about printing of the document data.

A three-dimensional data generating section 10 as a software module tobe called from the preview application 9 is connected to the previewapplication 9. The three-dimensional data generating section 10generates three-dimensional image data for a preview image correspondingto a user's stereoscopic viewing. When the three-dimensional datagenerating section 10 receives an instruction through the settingreceiving screen to three-dimensionally display a finished state as tobe described later, it generates the three-dimensional image data basedon the document data supplied from the application 2.

As a general method to convert image data for a preview image(intermediate file) into a three-dimensional image, for example, a planefigure projective (projection) transformation technique is disclosed(Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-312238 (1999)). In theconfiguration of the present invention, each page image in theintermediate file is virtually arranged at a given position and angle,and projective transformation is performed on the virtually arrangedeach page image to transform it into a three-dimensional preview image.Such a process is performed by the three-dimensional data generatingsection 10, and three-dimensional preview images illustrated in FIGS. 5and 6, for example, are acquired.

The printer driver 5 converts the EMF data (intermediate file) acquiredfrom the preview application 9 into data (image formation data) of atype (PCL) capable of being processed for printing by the multi-functionprinter 100, and sends the resulting data to the multi-function printer100. The multi-function printer 100 receives the PCL type data, andprints an image based on the document data on a sheet according to theprinting conditions and post-printing processing conditions.

On the other side, the multi-function printer 100 comprises: an imageinput section 102; an image output section 103 (image forming section);an image processing section 104; a communication section 105 (acquiringsection); an image display section 107; a storage section 106 (storingsection); and an operation panel 108. These hardware devices areconnected to a control section 101 by a bus N.

The image input section 102 comprises: a light source for irradiatinglight on a document to be read; and an image sensor such as a CCD(Charge Coupled Device), and optically reads image data of the document.In the image input section 102, a reflected light image from a documentset on a given read place is focused onto the image sensor, and RGB (R:Red, G: Green, B: Blue) analog data are outputted.

The image output section 103 prints an image based on image dataoutputted from the image processing section 104 on a sheet of recordingpaper, an OHP film, etc. The image output section 103 comprises: aphotosensitive drum; a charger for charging the photosensitive drum to agiven electric potential; a laser writer for generating an electrostaticlatent image on the photosensitive drum by emitting laser lightaccording to image data received from an external device; a developingdevice for supplying toner to the electrostatic latent image formed onthe photosensitive drum surface to visualize the image; and a transferdevice for transferring the toner image formed on the photosensitivedrum surface to a sheet, and, for example, forms the image on the sheetby an electro-photographic method.

The communication section 105 includes a network card, a modem, etc. forreceiving (acquiring) the document data and the printing conditions andpost-printing processing conditions from an external device such as thepersonal computer 1, and sends image data after being processed by theimage processing section 104 to an external device via the network card,modem, etc. as an example.

The storage section 106 is a non-volatile semiconductor memory such as ahard disk and stores image data of a document acquired through the imageinput section 102, or document data received from the personal computer1 through the communication section 105.

The operation panel 108 includes: function buttons for switchingfunctions, such as “Fax”, “Copy”, “Print”, and “Mail”, of the digitalmulti-function printer 100; ten-key; the Enter key for entering areceived instruction; and the “Output” key or the “Copy” key for formingan image of a document read by the image input section 102 on a sheet.

The image display section 107 is composed of a liquid crystal display asan example, and displays information to be reported to the user, such asthe status of the multi-function printer 100, the status of a jobprocessing, the image of a document read by the image input section 102,and the confirmation of the content of operation of the operation panel108.

The image processing section 104 generates digital image data on thebasis of analog data inputted from the image input section 102 as anexample, or it retrieves image data stored in the storage section 106,performs processing according to the type of each image, and thengenerates output image data (for image formation). The output image datagenerated by the image processing section 104 is outputted to the imageoutput section 103, or the communication section 105.

The control section 101 comprises a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM (not shown).The ROM stores various kinds of control programs, data, etc. in advance.The RAM is capable of storing data temporarily and allows the data to beread regardless of the order and place they are stored. The RAM stores,for example, a program read from the ROM, various kinds of datagenerated by the execution of the programs, and various kinds of datareceived from external devices.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary view illustrating one example of a display ofpreview images and the setting receiving screen of Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention. Although not confirmed on FIG. 4, since the previewimages are displayed based on image data for the preview images, thepresent invention allows the user to confirm more details compared to aconventional simplified preview image formed using document data,thereby further improving the visibility for the user and enabling adisplay of a preview image adequate for a high-image-quality,high-resolution, high-performance image forming apparatus.

The setting receiving screen includes soft buttons for receivingsettings of printing conditions and post-printing processing conditions,such as the “Number of copies”, “Duplex printing”, and “Finishing”. Whenthe user suitably operates these soft buttons, the setting receivingsection 92 receives the printing conditions and post-printing processingconditions through the setting receiving screen. For example, the useroperates the “Duplex printing” soft button and selects duplex printingor single-sided printing to set a printing condition, and operates the“Finishing” soft button to set a post-printing processing condition,such as right-side binding and left-side binding.

Further, the setting receiving screen includes “Finishing (threedimensional)” and “Finishing (two dimensional)” soft buttons. Forexample, after setting given printing conditions and post-printingprocessing conditions, when these soft buttons are operated, previewimages, which are reflected from the printing conditions andpost-printing processing conditions, are three-dimensionally ortwo-dimensionally displayed.

For instance, when the user operates the “Finishing (three dimensional)”soft button, the setting receiving section 92 receives an instruction tothree-dimensionally display a finished state in which the receivedprinting conditions and post-printing processing conditions arereflected. At this time, the three-dimensional data generating section10 modifies the already generated image data for the preview image,based on the printing conditions and post-printing processingconditions, according to a call from the preview application 9, andgenerates new three-dimensional image data for the preview image, sothat the preview image corresponding to a user's stereoscopic vision isdisplayed based on the three-dimensional image data on the display 7.FIG. 5 is an exemplary view illustrating one example ofthree-dimensionally displaying the finished state as preview images inEmbodiment 1 of the present invention. Since the finished state isthree-dimensionally displayed, the user is able to confirm the image onthe basis of a more realistic output result. Moreover, since thefinished state is three-dimensionally displayed, the user is able toconfirm the relationship between the front side and back side at aglance when the images are printed by duplex printing.

On the other hand, when the user operates the “Finishing (twodimensional)” soft button, the setting receiving section 92 receives aninstruction to two-dimensionally display a finished state in which thereceived printing conditions and post-printing processing conditions(for example, making holes) are reflected. FIG. 6 is an exemplary viewillustrating one example of two-dimensionally displaying the finishedstate as preview images in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a comparative view for comparing an image forming systemaccording to the present invention with a conventional image formingsystem.

In the conventional image forming system, a document is created on anapplication on a personal computer. When an instruction to print thedocument data is given, the printer driver is activated and a userinterface is displayed on the display section, and a simplified previewimage is created from the document data and displayed. Settings ofprinting conditions and post-printing processing conditions are receivedthrough the user interface, a simplified preview image, which isreflected from only the printing conditions, is displayed, and printingdata for the document data and the received printing conditions andpost-printing processing conditions are converted into PCL type data andsent to the multi-function printer.

On the other hand, in the image forming system according to the presentinvention, when a document is created on an application on a personalcomputer and an instruction to print the document data is given, theprinter driver is activated and image data for a preview image (EMFdata) corresponding to the document data is generated. The EMF dataincludes the document data and meta data. Next, a preview application isactivated, a user interface is displayed on the display section, and amore realistic preview image is created based on the EMF data anddisplayed. The preview application receives settings of printingconditions and post-printing processing conditions through the userinterface, modifies the image data for a preview image on the previewapplication, according to the printing conditions and post-printingprocessing conditions, and displays two-dimensionally orthree-dimensionally more realistic preview images in which the printingconditions and post-printing processing conditions are reflected.Thereafter, the preview application sends the document data togetherwith the received printing conditions and post-printing processingconditions to the printer driver. Then, the printer driver converts thedata into PCL type data and sends them to the multi-function printer.Thus, it is not necessary to regenerate the image data for a previewimage and the printing data every time a modification is made to theprinting conditions and post-printing processing conditions, themodification in the printing conditions and post-printing processingconditions are promptly reflected on the preview image, a preview imagematching the output image is displayed, and the effect of reducing theprocessing burden on the printer driver compared to the conventionalimage formation system is acquired.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating one example of a printing (imageformation) process in the image forming system according to Embodiment 1of the present invention.

For example, data is inputted through the input section 6 by the useroperating the input section 6 of the personal computer 1 (step S101).Based on the inputted data, a document is created on the application 2.

Based on a signal from the input section 6, coordinates on the screen ofthe display 7, etc., the application 2 determines whether or not aninstruction to print the document is received (step S102).

For instance, when the user is still creating a document, an instructionto print the document is not received, and therefore the application 2determines that an instruction to print the document is not received(step S102: NO), and waits until it receives a print instruction.

On the other hand, when the user finished the creation of a document andgave an instruction to print the document by operating the keyboard orthe mouse, the application 2 determines that an instruction to print thedocument is received (step S102: YES), and the preview driver 4 isactivated.

Based on the document data from the application 2 and information fromthe printer driver 5, the preview driver 4 (image data generatingsection 41) generates image data (EMF data) for a preview imagecorresponding to the document (step S103). The EMF data includes thedocument data and meta data about printing of the document data. At thistime, the preview application 9 is activated, and the setting receivingscreen is displayed on the display 7.

The preview application 9 displays on the display 7 a preview imagebased on the image data generated by the image data generating section41 by the above-mentioned method (step S104).

For example, as illustrated in the example of FIG. 4, after the previewimage is displayed, the user sets printing conditions and post-printingprocessing conditions by suitably operating the soft buttons on the leftside of the setting receiving screen shown in FIG. 4.

At this time, the preview application 9 monitors the operation of thesoft buttons on the setting receiving screen to determine whether or notthe printing conditions and post-printing processing conditions arereceived (step S105).

When the preview application 9 determines that the printing conditionsand post-printing processing conditions are received (step S105: YES),it (the modifying section 91) modifies the already generated image datafor the preview image according to the received printing conditions andpost-printing processing conditions, and redisplays a preview imagebased on the newly modified image data for the preview image, that is, apreview image in which the printing conditions and post-printingprocessing conditions are reflected (step S106). Thereafter, theprocessing proceeds to step S107.

On the other hand, when the preview application 9 determines that theprinting conditions and post-printing processing conditions are notreceived (step S105: NO), it determines, based on the signal from theinput section 6, coordinates on the screen of the display 7, etc.,whether or not an instruction to print the document is received (stepS107). In other words, the preview application 9 determines whether ornot an instruction to print the document is received by monitoringwhether or not the “Print” soft button on the upper left side in FIG. 4is operated.

When the preview application 9 determines that a print instruction for adocument is not received (step S107: NO), the processing returns to stepS105. On the other hand, when the user operated the keyboard or themouse to give an instruction to print the document, the previewapplication 9 determines that a print instruction is received (stepS107: YES), and sends printing data (EMF data) to the printer driver 5(step S108). The printing data includes the document data, meta dataabout printing of the document data, and the received printingconditions and post-printing processing conditions.

After the printer driver 5 acquired the printing data from the previewapplication 9, it converts the data into (generates) PCL type data (datafor image formation) so that the corresponding multi-function printer100 recognizes the data (step S109).

Next, the printer driver 5 sends the PCL type data to the multi-functionprinter 100 through the communication section 8 (step S110).

The control section 101 of the multi-function printer 100 receives thePCL type data through the communication section 105 (step S201), andgives the image output section 103 an instruction to perform printingbased on the received PCL type data. The image output section 103 printsan image corresponding to the document on a sheet according to theinstruction from the control section 101 (step S202).

Embodiment 2

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram illustrating an essentialconfiguration of a personal computer 1 according to Embodiment 2 of thepresent invention. The personal computer 1 of Embodiment 2 is configuredso that a computer program for operations is capable of being providedby a recording medium, such as a CD-ROM, through an I/F 81. Moreover,the personal computer 1 of Embodiment 2 is configured so that thecomputer program is capable of being downloaded from an external device(not shown) through a communication section 8. The contents will beexplained below.

The personal computer 1 of Embodiment 2 comprises an external (orinternal) recording medium reader (not shown). A removable recordingmedium A, which stores a program for receiving an image formationinstruction for document data, generating image data for a preview imagewhen the image formation instruction is received, displaying a previewimage based on the image data for the preview image on a displaysection, generating data for image formation based on the image data forthe preview image, receiving settings of image forming conditions forthe document data and post-image-formation processing conditions,modifying the image data for the preview image based on the receivedimage forming conditions and post-image-formation processing conditions,and generating a three-dimensional image data for a preview imagecorresponding to stereoscopic viewing, is inserted into the recordingmedium reader device, and, for example, a CPU 20 installs the program inan EPROM 40. The program is loaded in a RAM 30 and executed.Consequently, it functions as the personal computer 1 of Embodiment 1 ofthe present invention.

The recording medium may be a so-called program medium, or a mediumcarrying program codes in a fixed manner, such as tapes including amagnetic tape and a cassette tape, disks including magnetic disks suchas a flexible disk and a hard disk, and optical disks such as a CD-ROM,MO, MD, and DVD, cards such as an IC card (including a memory card) andan optical card, or semiconductor memory such as a mask ROM, an EPROM,an EEPROM, and a flash ROM.

Or the recording medium is a recording medium carrying program codes ina flowing manner like downloading the program codes from a networkthrough the communication section 8. In the case where the program isdownloaded from a communication network in such a manner, a program fordownloading is stored in the main apparatus in advance, or installedfrom a different recording medium. Note that the present invention isalso implemented in the form of a computer data signal embedded in acarrier wave in which the program codes are embodied by an electronictransfer.

The same parts as in Embodiment 1 are designated with the same referencenumbers, and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted.

As this description may be embodied in several forms without departingfrom the spirit of essential characteristics thereof, the presentembodiments are therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since thescope is defined by the appended claims rather than by the descriptionpreceding them, and all changes that fall within metes and bounds of theclaims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds thereof are thereforeintended to be embraced by the claims.

1. (canceled)
 2. An image forming system including a data processingapparatus that creates document data for an image to be formed anddisplays a preview image corresponding to the document data on adisplay, and an image forming apparatus that forms an image based ondata acquired, wherein the data processing apparatus comprises: an imagedata generator that generates image data for the preview image; asetting receiver that sets post-image-formation processing conditionsfor the document data; an image modifier that modifies the image datafor the preview image, according to the post-image-formation processingconditions received by the setting receiver; and an image display thatdisplays the preview image on the display, according to the image datagenerated by the image data generator or the image data modified by theimage modifier, and the image forming apparatus comprises: an acquirerthat acquires the data for image formation from the data processingapparatus; and an image former that forms an image based on the acquireddata for image formation.
 3. The image forming system according to claim2, wherein the setting receiver receives image forming conditions forthe document data; the image modifier modifies the image data for thepreview image, according to the image forming conditions and thepost-image-formation processing conditions received by the settingreceiver; and a preview image is displayed based on the modified imagedata from the image modifier on the display.
 4. The image forming systemaccording to claim 2, wherein the data processing apparatus furthercomprises a three-dimensional data generator that generatesthree-dimensional image data for a preview image corresponding tostereoscopic viewing.
 5. The image forming system according to claim 3,wherein a formation data generator generates data for image formationincluding the image forming conditions and the post-image-formationprocessing conditions, according to an instruction from the imagedisplay.
 6. A data processing apparatus that creates document data foran image to be formed and displays a preview image corresponding to thedocument data on a display, the data processing apparatus comprising: animage data generator that generates image data for the preview image; asetting receiver that receives post-image-formation processingconditions for the document data; an image modifier that modifies theimage data for the preview image, according to the post-image-formationprocessing conditions received by the setting receiver; and an imagedisplay that displays the preview image on the display, according to theimage data generated by the image data generator or the image datamodified by the image modifier.
 7. The data processing apparatusaccording to claim 6, wherein the setting receiver receives imageforming conditions for the document data; the image modifier modifiesthe image data for the preview image, according to the image formingconditions and the post-image-formation processing conditions receivedby the setting receiver; and a preview image is displayed based on themodified image data from the image modifier on the display.
 8. The dataprocessing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising athree-dimensional data generator that generates three-dimensional imagedata for a preview image corresponding to stereoscopic viewing.
 9. Thedata processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a formation datagenerator generates data for image formation including the image formingconditions and the post-image-formation processing conditions, accordingto an instruction from the image display.
 10. An image forming apparatuscomprising: the data processing apparatus as set forth in claim 6; andan image former that forms an image based on the document data createdby the data processing apparatus on a sheet.
 11. A non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium readable by a computer and storing acomputer program that causes the computer constituting a data processingapparatus, which includes a display and creates document data for animage to be formed, to perform a method of displaying a preview imagecorresponding to the document data, the method comprising: causing thecomputer to generate image data for the preview image; causing thecomputer to receive post-image-formation processing conditions for thedocument data; causing the computer to modify the image data for thepreview image, according to the post-image-formation processingconditions received in the receiving step; and causing the computer todisplay the preview image on the display, according to the image datagenerated in the image data generating step or the image data modifiedin the modifying step.
 12. The non-transitory computer-readablerecording medium readable by the computer according to claim 11, whereinthe method further comprises: causing the computer to receive imageforming conditions for the document data; causing the computer to modifythe image data for the preview image, according to the received imageforming conditions and the received post-image-formation processingconditions, and causing the computer to display the preview image basedon the modified image data on the display.
 13. The non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium readable by the computer according toclaim 11, wherein the method further comprises: causing the computer togenerate three-dimensional image data for a preview image correspondingto stereoscopic viewing; and causing the computer to display the previewimage corresponding to the three-dimensional image data on the display.14. A display method for use with a data processing apparatus, whichincludes a display and creates document data for an image to be formed,to display a preview image corresponding to the document data, thedisplay method comprising: generating image data for the preview image;receiving post-image-formation processing conditions for the documentdata; modifying the image data for the preview image, according to thepost-image-formation processing conditions received in the receivingstep; and displaying the preview image on the display, according to theimage data generated in the image data generating step or the image datamodified in the modifying step.
 15. The display method according toclaim 14, further comprising: receiving image forming conditions for thedocument data; modifying the image data for the preview image, accordingto the received image forming conditions and the receivedpost-image-formation processing conditions, and displaying the previewimage based on the modified image data on the display.
 16. The displaymethod according to claim 14, further comprising: generatingthree-dimensional image data for a preview image corresponding tostereoscopic viewing; and displaying the preview image corresponding tothe three-dimensional image data on the display.